Refrigerator.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL T. HOPKINS, OF STERLING, KANSAS.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed March 17, 1917.

weighing mechanism associated with the refrigerator in a manner thatwill permit the ice within the compartment provlded for its reception tobe welghed whereby the person purchasing the ice from the dealer maydetermine whether the ice weighs more or less than the amount bargainedfor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weighing mechanismassociated with an indicator visible from the exterior of therefrigerator whereby the weight of the ice within the refrigerator maybe observed thereby permitting the user to determine when the icecompartment needs to be refilled.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a weighing mechanismwithin the ice compartment adaptedto support the ice at all times andconstructed so that the melting ice will not contact with any of theworking parts thus eliminating the possibility of corroded parts.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a refrigeratorwhich consists of comparatively few parts and is simple in construction,but durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to whichdevices of this character are ordinarily subjecteo.

For a full description of the invention and the advantages and meritsthereof, reference is to be had to the following description and theaccompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated'the preferred form of myin vention, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the refrigerator showing my inventionapplied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the ice compartment door in openposition as disclosing the scale platform.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the upper portion ofthe refrigerator showing the invention in applied posi* tion.

Referring to the drawing, wherein is illustrated the preferred form ofmy invention Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

Serial No. 155,541.

and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, the refrigerator lis constructed in anypreferred manner or may include any standard make or design of refrigerator. The upper or ice compartment 2 is pro vided with the door 3 forpermitting the compartment to be tightly closed when the ice is insertedin the compartment.

Mounted upon the partition or wall a which separates the ice compartment2 from the food compartment is the weighing scale which includes a base5 having suitable supporting elements for supporting a scale platform 6.This base and the platform are preferably constructed from steel or anyother suitable metal and has a coating or covering of white enamel topresent a perfectly sanitary surface and to prevent corrosion of themetallic parts. A suitable pivoted scale beam 7 is connected to thescale and is extended through the inner wall of the refrigerator and hasits terminal disposed in the air space 8 between the inner and outerwalls of the refrigerator.

A coil tension spring 9 is fixed to the end of the beam 'T-and isextended downwardly through the air space and connected to a rigidlysecured bolt 9 whereby the beam 7 may be held under the proper tensionfor supporting the platform 6 in the manner common to scales of similarcharacter. Pivotally connected to the beam 7 and extending upwardlythrough the air space 8 is a connecting rod 10 pivotally connected to arack bar 11, having its teeth in mesh with a pinion 12. This pinion ismounted upon a transverse shaft 13 extending across the air space 8, andhaving its outer end ournaled in the outer wall of the refrigerator.Cenwith the graduations on the dial 155.

From this description it will be obvious that when a quantity of ice isplaced upon the platform 6, the weighing mechanism will be operated tocause the end of the beam 7 to rise thus imparting a movement to the Irack bar 11 which will rotate the pinion thus turning the indicatorfinger to register the quantity of ice. As the ice melts, the indieatorlinger will register the number of pounds of ice thus permitting it tobe known, the time at which the ice coi'npartment should be replenishedwithout necessarily opening the door thereof.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a very simple and durable"refrigerator has been provided, the details of which embody thepreferred form. I desire it to be understood, however; that slightchanges in the minor details of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claimhereunto appended.

I claim:

The combination with a refrigerator hav ing an ice compartment and anouter casing separated from the ice compartment, thus forming an airspace, a scale mounted in the ice compartment and carrying a platform, abeam projecting through the wall of Copies of this patent may beobtained for the ice compartment into the said air space, a lixcdclement below the said beam and provided with a coil, spring having oneend connected to the beam, a rack bar mounted for reciprocatory movementin the said space, a connecting rod pivotally connected to the end ofthe said rack bar and to the end of the said beam for transmittingmotion to the said rack bar when the beam is actuated, weight indicatingmeans including a shaft having a pinionmounted thereon, engagable withthe rack bar and adapted to be actuated by the rack bar when the saidmeans is actuated.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature n1 presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL T. HOPKINS.

five cents each, by. addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G.

